Shuttle-actuating mechanism for sewing-machines.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

' A. B. FOWLER. SHUTTLE AGTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.13. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

M mww No. 820,964. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. A. B. FOWLER.

SHUTTLE AOTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN.13. 1902.

' z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nirn STES PATENT cl rion.

ALFRED BJFOWLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR'TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHUTTLE-ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteo. lvlay 22, 1906.

Application filed January 13,1902. Serial No. 89,584.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. Fray-Lian, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and uselul Improvements in Shuttle-Actuating Mechanisms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Thepresent invention relates to an improved shuttle-actuating mechanismfor lockstitch shoe-sewing machines; 4

Lock-stitch shoe-sewing machines as now usuallyconstructed comprise a curved hooked needle and a discoidal s'huttleiocated in the path of movement of the needle and in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane or the path of movement of the needle, the shuttle having a portion of the periphery cut away or. notched to aliow the needle to pass therethrough in its movements toward and from the work. During such movement of the needle the shuttle is held stationary, or substantially so, and is then rotated through substantially a complete revolution to pass the shuttle-threadthrough the loop held by the needle or by a tl1rcad-lifter or loopspreaden It is necessary that the shuttle be actuated in timed relation to the movements of the needle and to the movements of the various other instrumcntalities or the machine which cooperate in the sewing operation. To

secure this result, two general types of shuttle-actuating mechanism have heretofore been employed, one being arranged to impart to the shuttle an oscillating movement and the other being arranged to impart to the shuttle an intermittent or variable rotary movement in the same direction. On account of its simplicity and compactness of construction and its certainty of operation the type of shuttle-actuating mechanism which has usually been employed is that which is arranged to impart to the shuttle an oscillating; movement. This type of met-h.

anism, however, has the disadvantage of imparting to the shuttle an idle movementthat is, a movement which performs no useful function. This idle movement .of the shuttle, which is its backward movement, oc-- cupies an appreciable portion of the time duringwhich a complete cycle of operations of the machine takes place and by interfering with the action of certain instrumentalities of the machine diminishes the time which they would otherwise have in which to perform their several functions.

The instrumentality the action of which is directly interfered with by the shuttle during its idle movement is the needle, which must remain in its retracted position during such movement. Since, however, the various instrumentalities of" the machine which cooper 6 5 ate in the sewing operation must operate in a certain prescribed order, the movements of certain other instrumentalities are interfered with indirectly and must take place duringa smaller portion of the time required for a coin- 7o plote' cycle of operations than would otherwise be the case. This,necessitates abrupt changes in the contourof the operating-cams, with. a consequent loss in speed and in case and smoothness of operation.

Slnittle-actuating mechanisms which impart to the shuttle an intermittent or variable rotary movement in the same direction as heretofore constructed have consisted of complicated systems of differential gearing or have involved the employment of gears which were meshed and unmeshod during the operation of the machine or have comprised a large number of parts which were, as COIII- pared to that type by which an oscillating movement is imparted to the shuttle, compli cated inarrangement and operation and 0ccupied considerable space in the machine. Certain of these mechanisms produce two dwells in the rotary movement of the shuttle, go one when the shuttle is in a position to allow the needle to move toward and from the work and the other when the shuttle is in a position to allow the loop oi thread which has been taken by the shuttle to be discharged therefrom. The movement of the shuttle after the loop of thread has been discharged is an idle movement and interferes with the movement of the other instrumentalities in the same manner as the idle backwardmovemo ment of an oscillating shuttle. These mech anisms therefore possess the disadvantages of mechanisms for imparting an oscillating movement to the shuttle and are alsoobjectiouable as being more complex in construction and operation and as occupying more space in the machine. The mechanism which involved the meshing and unmeshing' of gears wasinherently objectionable from a mechanical point of view, because of their uncertainty of operation and liability to acci-- dental or wear-produced derangement.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved shuttle-actuating mechanism for rotating the shuttle intermittently in the ble shuttle-driver, an oscillatory member, a.

vibrating member for actuating the oscillatory member havingcontinuous engagement therewith, and means for connecting the shuttle-driver to the oscillatory member and for disconnecting it. therefrom, whereby an intermittent rotary movement in one direction is imparted to the shuttle-driver. A mechanism embodying my invention also preferably embodies means for locking the shuttle-driver in position while disconnected from its actuating member, whereby any liability that the shuttle-driver will be displaced and connected to its driving member when their relative positions are such as to cause theshuttle to be actuated out of timed relation to the other instrumentalities of the machine is avoided. B providing such a mechanism I eliminate the meshingand unmeshing of gears and all idle or unnecessary movements of the shuttle which would interfere with the operation of the other instrumentalities of the machine and at the same time secure all the advantages as to simplicity and compactness of construction and certainty of operation of a mechanism for implarting an oscillating movement to the shutt e.

' My invention also contemplates certain other features of construction particularly defined in the claims;

In the drawings accompanying this application 1 have illustrated a preferred form of my invention as applied to the well-known Goodyear rapid stitcher, which is illustrated and described in the patent to French and Meyer, No. 473,870, April 26, 1892' It will be understood, however, that my invention is equally applicable to other lock-stitch shoesewing machines and that it can be otherwise embodied without departing from the spirit thereof.

is a view in sectional elevation of the machine disclosed in the'patent to French and Meyer, hereinbefore referred to, with my present invention applied thereto, said View corresponding to Fig. 4 of the patent.

Referring to Figs. land 2, 1- indicates the stationary shuttle race or casing, 2 the shuttle-retaining cap, 3 the discoidal shuttle, 4 the bobbin, and 5 the arm, which retains the bobbin in position in the shuttle and prevents it from rotating therewith, the construction and arrangement of these parts being the same as the corresponding parts disclosed in the patent hereinafter referred to. The shuttle-driver consists of two projections 6 and 7, projecting from a plate 8, formed on the end of a shaft 9, mounted to rotatein a boss 10, extending from the rear side of the casing 1, which projections are arranged to on age the shuttle at its rear portion and at the ase of its point 11, respectively, these parts being also constructed and arranged asin the patent hereinbefore referred 'to.

The vibrating member for actuating the shuttle-driver is indicated at 12 and consists of a pivoted lever, the forward end of which is segmental in shape and is provided with a series of gear-teeth 13. This actuating member is'of substantially the same construction as the shutt e-actuating segment of the machine. disclosed in the patent hereinbefore referred to and occupies substantially the same position in them achine. In the machine disclosed in the patent hereinbefore referred to the shuttle-actuatingsegment is always connected to the shuttle-driver, so that the os- I cillating movements of the segment impart an oscillating movement to the shuttle-driver andthrough the shuttle-driver to the shuttle. The disadvantages accruing from so actuating the shuttle have been referred to above, and in order to overcome these disadvantages I have provided means for connecting the shuttle-driver to the segment while the segment is moving in one direction and for disconnecting it therefrom while the segment is moving in the opposite direction, whereby an intermittent rotary movement in thesame direction instead of an oscillating movement is imparted to the shuttle. The means shown in the drawin s for accomplishing this result may be descri ed as follows: A pinion 14 is mounted to rotate loosely upon the rear end of the shaft 9 and is in continual engagement with the teeth 13' of the segmental lever 12. A clutch member 15 is splined upon sconce the shaft .9 between the boss of the casing! ,1 and the pinion 14, so as to rotate with the l shaft and be capable of a sliding movement longitudinally thereof. The adjacent faces of the clutch member 15 and the pinion 14 are provided with clutch devices, whereby the pinion is clutched to the clutch member when the clutch. member is moved longitudinally of the shaft into engagement therewith, said clutch devices, as shown, consisting of a pin 16, projecting from the face-of the clutch member, and a recess 17 on the face of the pinion shaped to receive the pin 16.

it will be seen that the above-described construction is such that the clutch member 15 can be alternately connected to the pinion 1 1 and disconnected therefrom by moving the clutch member longitudinally of the shaft 9 toward and from the pinion and that since the pinion is constantly in mesh with the teeth 13 of the segment-lever 12 and the clutch member 15 is splined upon the shaft 9, so as to rotate therewith, such move ments of the clutch member not to intermittently connect the shuttle-driver to the actuating-lever 12 and to disconnect it therefrom. By moving the clutch member 15 at the proper times with relation to the movement of lever 1.2 the shuttle-driver may be connected to the actuating-lever while the lever is moving in one direction and disconnected therefrom while the lever '5 moving in the opposite direction, whereby an intermittent rotary movement in the same direction will be imparted to the shuttle driver and through the shuttle-driver to the shuttle. For so moving the clutchmcmber 15 a bent lever 18 is provided, one arm of which is forked to embrace the clutch member 15 and is connected thereto by pins projecting into a groove in the clutch member, and the other arm of which is engaged by suitable actuating mechanism as, forinstance, a cam on the cam-shaft of the machine.

It will be understood that the cams for actuating the levers 12 and is will be so shaped as to cause the clutch member 15 to be moved. into engagement with the pinion 1.4 and be disconnected therefrom at such times during the operation of the machine as will cause the shuttle to be intermittently ro tated at the proper times during the sewing operation; The particular shape to be given to these cams will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In order that the shuttle may be actuated. in timed relation with the other instrumentalities of'the machineflt is essential that the shuttle-driver be connected to its actuating member when the shuttle and driver and its actuating member are in a certain relative position. To insure this result, I provide means for locking the shuttle driver iii position while disconnected from its actuating ating member.

member, whereby the shuttle-driver is held properly actuated, these means preferably becoming operative to lock the shuttledriver in position before it is disconnected from its actuating member and to release it only after ithas been connected to its actuthe drawings, consist of braking or locking devices on the ad acent faces of the boss 10 and the clutch member 15, the faces of the clutch member 15 being provided with a projection 19 and the face of the boss 10 beingprovided with a recess 20, shaped to receive the pin 19. The movement imparted to the clutch member 15 by the lever 18 is sufficient to disconnect the clutch member from the pinion '14 and bring it into engagement with the end of the boss 10, the pins or projections 16 and 19 and their respective recesses 17 and 20 being of such length. that each pin will enter its corresponding recess before the other pin is entirely withdrawn from its recess, so

that accidental movement of the shuttledriver shaft 9 to throw the pins or projections out of operative position cannot occur. A dwell is provided in' the cam for actuating the lever 12 at each end of its stroke, so that 5 when the clutch member 15 is shifted in either direction the pinion 14 shall be at rest.

The machine illustrated in the patent hereinbofore referred to, to which my invention is particularly designed to be applied, is pro 1 oo vided with a thread-lifter or loop-spreader, (indicated at 21 in If ig. 2 from which the loop of needle-thread is taken by'the point of the shuttle. It will be understood, however,

that my invention is equally applicable to a machine in which the shuttle is arranged to take the loop of needle-thread directly from the needle.

The manner in which the above-described embodiment of the present invention is apno plied to the machine disclosed in the patent to French and Meyer, No. 473,870, will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. Referring to this figure, 22 indicates the main driving-shaft of the machine, upon I15 which are secured the cams from which the various parts of the machine are operated. 23 indicates the curved hook-needle, 2d the curved awl, 25 the thread-finger, 26 the looper, and 27 the take-up, these parts being merits which. cooperate with the shuttle in 12 5 forming a stitch and constitute what is ref erred to in certain of the claims as the complementary stitch forming mechanism."

These means, as shown in 75 The other parts (illustrated in Fig. 3,) with the exception of the parts hereinbefore described, are the same in construction,"arrangement, and mode of operation as the corresponding parts of the patented machine. actuating the lever 18 is indicated at 28 and is formed u: 311 the periphery of one of the main cam-disks secured to the driving-shaft 22. This cam acts to move the lever so as to positively force the clutch member into engagement with the pinion 14. The movement of the lever in the opposite direction to move the clutch member out of engagement with the ear and into engagement with the boss 10 o the shuttle race or casing is roduced by a coiled spring 29, one end .of w 'ch is connected to the lower end of the lever and the other to the shuttle-casing. During the o eration of the machine the various parts of t e complementary stitch-forming mechanism remain connected to the main drivingshaft, so that the complementary stitchforming mechanism is in continuous operation. The shaft 9, through which the shuttle is driven, is, however, intermittently connected to and disconnected from the main driving-shaft by the movements which are imparted to the lever 18. by the cam 28, so

that the shuttle is intermittentlyrotated in one direction at the proper times during the operation of the complementary stitch formin mechanism.-'

aving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A shuttle-actuating mechanism, having, in combination, a shuttle, a shuttledrlver shaft, an oscillatory member loosely mounted thereon, a vibrating lever for actuating the oscillatory member, a clfitch member slidingly mounted upon the shuttledriver shaft and held from rotation with re lation thereto, a stationary braking member and means for moving the clutch m mber alternately into engagement with the 'oscilla tory member and braking member, substaning, in combination, a shuttle-driver, a shuttle-driver shaft, a pinion loosely mounted thereon, a toothed segment meshing with the The cam for 7 pinion is disconnected therefrom, substan tially as described.

5. A shuttle-actuating mechanism, hav ing, in combination, a shuttle-driver, a shuttledriver shaft, a pinion looselymounted thereon, a toothed segment meshing with said pinion, a clutch member splined on the shaft, 1 a stationary braking member, and means for moving the clutch member alter nately into engagement with the pinion and brakingmember, substantially as described. 6. In a sewing machine, the combination with a main driving-shaft, a shuttle, complementary stitch-forming mechanism, and driving connection between said main shaft and said complementary stitch forming mechanism, of means for intermittently operating said shuttle during the continuous operation. of said complementary stitchforming mechanism, said means comprising a second shaft, driving connection between said second shaft and said shuttle, a gear having movement independent of said sec- 0nd shaft, driving connection between said gear and said main shaft, a clutch adapted to connect said gear and said second shaft, and means between said main shaft and said clutch for causing said main shaft to operate said clutch to alternately connect and disconnect said second shaft and said gear, substantially as described.

7. The combination With a shuttle and its complementary stitch-forming mechanism, of means for intermittently operating said shuttle comprising a driving shaft in driving connection therewith, a earhaving movement independent of sai shaft,'means for reciprocating said gear, a clutch adapted to connect said gear and said shaft, and means for automatically throwing said clutch into position to connect said gear and shaft during movement of said gear in one direction and into position to disconnect said gear and shaft during reverse movement of said gear, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a shuttle and its complementary stitch-forming mechanism,

of a. main shaft, driving connection between said main shaft and said complementary stitch-forming mechanism, and means for intermittently operating said shuttle without affecting the operation of said complementary stitch-forming mechanism, said means. comprising asecond shaft, driving connection between said second shaft and said shuttie, a gear having movement independent of said second shaft,' driving connection be clutch adapted to connect said gear and said shaft, and means for operating said clutch, substantial lyas described.

10. The combination with a shuttle and its complementary stitch-forming mechanism, of means for intermittently operating said shuttle comprising a shaft; driving connection between said shaft and said shuttle, a gear loosely mounted upon said shaft,

,means-for reciprocating said gear, means for operatively connecting said gear and shaft during movement of said gear in one direction, and means for locking said shaft against movement during the reverse movement of ,Sflid gear, substantially as described.

' 11. The combination with a shuttle and its complementary stitch-forming mechanism, of means for intermittently operating said shuttle and comprising a gear having movement independent of said shuttle, a

' driving member cooperating with said gear,

said drivin memberhaving movement other than its s uttle-driving movement, means for locking said driving member against movement, a relatively fixed member, a clutch having gear engaging and releasing movement independent of said shuttle but movable with said shuttle in the movement of the latter, and means for looking said clutch in engagement with said gear when said gear-driving member is locked against movement, moving said clutch into locked engagement with said relatively fixed member to break the connection between said' shaftand said gear and permit movement of said driving member other than shuttledriving movement,.and to connect said gear and shuttle during ,the shuttle-driving move ment of said gear-driving member, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a shuttle and its complementary stitch-forming mechanism, of means for intermittently operating said shuttleand comprising a gear having movement independent of said shuttle, a driving member cooperating with said gear,

said driving member having movement other than its shuttle-driving movement, means for locking said driving member against movement, a relatively fixed member, a clutch having gear engaging and releasing movement independent of said shuttle but movable with said shuttle in the movements,

of the latter, means for locking said clutch in engagement with said gear when said geardriving member is locked against movement, moving said clutch into looked engagement with said relatively fixed member to break the connection between said shaft and said gear and permit movement of said driving member other than shuttle-driving movement, and to connect said gear and shuttle during the shuttle-driving movement of said gear-driving member, and means whereby said clutch engages one of the parts to which it is locked before disengaging the other of said parts, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a shuttle and its complementary stitch-forming mechanism, of means for intermittently operating said shuttle andcomprising a driving-shaft in driving connection therewith, a gear having movement independent of said shaft, 0. re-

ciproeatory gear-driving member,means for locking said driving member against movement, a relatively fixed member, a clutch slidable upon said shaft but rotatable therewith, and means upon said clutch whereby the same can engage either said gear or said relatively fixed member, said means being of such character that said clutch engages one of said parts before disengaging the other thereof, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a shuttle and its complementary stitch-forming mechanism, of means for intermittentlyoperating said shuttle and comprising a driving-shaft in driving connection therewith, a gear having movement independent of said shaft, a re ciprocatory gear-driving member, a clutch slidable upon said shaft but rotatable there with, said clutch being adapted to engage said gear, and means whereby, said clutch being in closed position connecting said gear and said shaft and said clutch-driving memher being at the end of its clutch-driving movement said gear-driving member rests and during this period of rest said clutch is thrown into open position, said gear-driving member then moves backwardly, said geardriving member then rests and during this period of rest said clutch moves into closed position, and said gear-driving member then moves forwardly to drive the said shaft, substantially as described.

15. A shuttle-actuating mechanism, havin in combination, a shuttledriver, an oscil atory member, a vibrating lever for actuating the oscillatory member having continuone operative engagement therewith, and

means for connecting the shuttle-driver to I connections for connecting and disconnect- IO the oscillatory member and for disconnecting ing the oscillatory member and shuttle-driver, it therefrom, substantially as described. substantially as described.

16. A shuttle-actuating mechanism, hav- In testimony whereof I affix my signature ing, in combination, a sliuttledriver, an osin presence of two Witnesses. cillatory member, a lever and cam for ectu- T ALFRED B. FOWLER. ating the oscillatory member, said lever and Witnesses: oscillatory member being in continuous op- FRED O. FISH, emtive connection, and a clutch and suitable HORACE VAN EVEREN. 

